Lam Dong develops a project to establish urban administrative units in 2026
The People’s Committee of Lam Dong Province has issued a plan to develop the 2026 Project on the Establishment of Urban Administrative Units across the province, aiming to concretize the central government's policies and meet urban development requirements in the new period.
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Promoting urban development in line with the new governance model
The plan is based on the 2025 Law on Organization of Local Government, along with resolutions of the National Assembly and the National Assembly Standing Committee on urban classification and administrative unit standards, as well as decrees and guiding documents issued by the Government and the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the establishment of urban administrative units.
According to the plan, the project aims to establish urban administrative units in line with development planning, state management requirements and the province’s urbanization process. It is also expected to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of governance in areas such as planning, land management, population administration, urban order, environmental management and technical infrastructure.
The implementation of the project is expected to contribute to socio-economic development, improve public service quality, accelerate administrative reform and digital transformation, and foster the development of modern, smart, civilized and climate-resilient urban areas.
Under current regulations, urban administrative units (wards) must meet criteria including a population of at least 21,000 people and a natural area of 5.5 square kilometers or more. They must also serve as comprehensive or specialized centers at the provincial or sub-regional level.
Urban residents must account for at least 50 percent of the population, while the combined proportion of industry-construction and services in the economic structure must account for at least 70 percent. The non-agricultural labor force must also exceed 70 percent. In addition, local budget revenues must be balanced, average income levels higher than the provincial average, and poverty rates lower than the overall provincial average.
Completing the project dossier before June 15, 2026
The project dossier on establishing urban administrative units will include five sections: legal basis, current development status, establishment plan, impact assessment, and conclusions and recommendations. It will also include appendices, administrative boundary maps, statistical data and documentary footage serving the appraisal process.
The project development process will be carried out through multiple steps, beginning with communes reviewing current conditions, preparing reports, seeking policy approval, organizing voter consultations, finalizing dossiers and submitting them to competent authorities for consideration. All dossiers are expected to be completed and submitted to the Government and the Ministry of Home Affairs before June 15, 2026.
The provincial People’s Committee has assigned the Department of Home Affairs to take the lead in consolidating information, drafting the overall project and monitoring implementation progress.
The Department of Finance, Department of Construction, provincial Police, Department of Agriculture and Environment, provincial Statistics Office and other relevant agencies are tasked with providing data, guiding criteria and coordinating project implementation.
People’s Committees of communes are required to review urban standards, prepare local project dossiers, organize voter consultations and complete documentation in accordance with the proposed timeline.
For localities that already meet the required conditions, including Duc Trong, Ham Thuan Nam and Cu Jut, the province will prioritize completing projects to establish wards in accordance with approved policies.